24 February 2010

Cycle Chic's Top 5 Cycle Chic Cities

I was asked in an interview recently what the best cities for Cycle Chic are and it was a good question. I figured I'd whip up a Top 5 List of the Cycle Chic'est Cities on the planet. I limited the list to larger metropolises. Being a Cycle Chic Metropolis requires, basically, two elements. A high fashion bar among the population and... bicycles. It requires that a city has a developed bicycle culture, meaning that the bicycle is an important and respected transport option that is used by regular citizens. Citizens who don't identify themselves as being 'cyclists' or members of a sub-culture but who merely use a bicycle to get around. In many ways, Cycle Chic is synonomous with Mainstraim Bicycle Culture.

1. COPENHAGEN,DENMARKThis probably doesn't surprise you, but we're going with Copenhagen at #1. The reason, apart from the fact that bicycles are an integral part of life in the world's cycling capital, is that the fashion bar is frightfully high in Copenhagen.

Copenhageners are simply an incredibly well-dressed bunch. You'll see well-dressed people in every city but in the Danish capital style and textile æsthetics are a fabric extension of the Danish design tradition. If we measure the procentage of a city's population who are well-dressed, Copenhagen is way ahead.

Whatever they're wearing, Copenhageners just hop onto bicycles to get around. Crappy, squeaky bicycles, fancy bicycles, cargo bikes, whatever. The city gets extra bonus points for the rather recent development of investing in cooler bicycles. For over a century bicycles were black and heavy. With the economic boom of the last decade, bicycles were all of a sudden available in all sorts of colours and styles. Now Copenhageners can accessorize with their bicycles.Chic. Cycles. Cycle Chic.

2. TOKYO, JAPANAt #2, Tokyo. Fashion capital of the planet. Sure, we look to the catwalks of Milano and Paris to see what's coming, but it is in Tokyo that the clothes make an impact. Even the greeters who bow at customers inside the doors of department stores are wearing ensembles worth more than annual salary.

As far as bicycles go, Japan is third only to Denmark and Holland regarding mainstream bicycle culture. Bicycles abound in this major car-producing nation. You'll see more bicycles in the racks around Shibuya Station on any day of the week than you'll see on the streets of New York and London combined in the course of a year.

In the 'Well-Dressed Sweepstakes' Tokyo nudges ahead of Copenhagen but loses points on the bicycle front. There is less separated infrastructure for bikes than in Copenhagen and, say, Osaka or Kyoto. Cyclists often ride on the sidewalks, which is great for Style over Speed, but the city would be that much more Cycle Chic friendly with bike lane catwalks for the impeccably-dressed citizens.

3. AMSTERDAM, THENETHERLANDSTo be completely honest, it's a tight race in the top three. Amsterdam breathes down Tokyo and Copenhagen's neck on the Cycle Chic Cities list. The bicycle is king in Amsterdam, no doubt about that. Amsterdam and Copenhagen are the Romulus and Remus of modern bicycle culture.

One thing that always strikes us about Amsterdammers is their fantastic individual style. They are so cool, unique and relaxed, with a high level of 'urban funk' in their style.

We find the Amsterdam affection for clunky old bicycles to be fantastically charming. They compliment their non-chalant attitude brilliantly.

4.PARIS,FRANCEBasically, if you don't include Paris on any list that has anything to do with fashion or style, they send a stiletto clad task force after you to blow cigarette smoke in your face and to shrug in your general direction.

Since Vélib started, 2 million private bicycles have been sold in the city and it shows. So... the city is virtually bicycle-friendly, which certainly counts on the Cycle Chic scale. Fashion-wise... well... it's Paris. The fashion bar is high and the people who are using the Vélib bicycles and private bicycles are people who you would otherwise ride the Metro with. Impeccably-dressed gents and fabulously-fab fashionistas.

If the city keeps up it's push for a more bicycle-friendly future, you'll see Paris muscling it's way up this list.

5. LONDON,UNITEDKINGDOMWe had to think about #5 for a while, but London ended up rolling away with the honours. Cycling is up and coming in the city and there are a lot of positive players promoting it. Much of our decision for the #5 spot is based on a two-day photo gig in the city back in June last year. Sitting outside Lock 7 Café in Hackney and watching the morning bicycle traffic roll past was like sitting in Copenhagen or Amsterdam. It blew us away.

Sure, most are fairweather cyclists and sure, there is a lot of lycra about, but hey... it's London, innit. Global city and all that. Fashion centre supreme. "Get on with it, mate" attitude. If there's one global city that has the potential to follow in Paris' footsteps, it's London. From the Swinging Sixties to the Two-Wheeled Teens.

Waiting in the WingsSo who's coming up fast from behind? What cities are - hopefully - soon reaching a level of mainstream urban cycling and therewith glorious Cycle Chicaliciousness? Three come to mind right off the bat.

TORONTOThere is a great deal of effort being made in Toronto to push cycling over into the mainstream realm and already the streets are graced with chic cyclists of both sexes. MONTREALWith the success of the BIXI bikes share system Montreal is following in the footsteps of many French cities by bringing cycling as transport back to the people.

SAN FRANCISCOIf there is an American city that has the will and the style to reach the heights of Cycle Chic, it's San Francisco. It's where I left my heart.

i'm so glad to see Canadian cities in the wings.. if we can just push the helmet debates and safety debates aside and celebrate the joy and passion and sexiness that cycling brings to any city i'll be happy.

i'm seeing so many more smiles riding by... can't wait for another year.

I don't think it would make top 5, or even top 10 actually with such contenders, but have you ever been to Oxford? Plenty of bikes there, mostly students on mountain bikes on the way to lectures, but it does provide some stunning people,on stunning bikes in a stunning city. Plus if you go in the summer, around exam period, you get people cycling around in traditional sub fusc on the way to the examination halls, it looks pretty spectacular.

If anyone's interested flickr has a bunch of photos I think, Oxford cyclists should do the trick as a search term.

Got to say, Melbourne, Australia is getting some potential. Last time I returned home from Copenhagen to Melbourne, I was a bit overwhelmed by the lycra effect. But this year when I returned I was pleasantly surprised by the increased number of Cycle Chic style bikes, 'real' bike shops (my style bike shops I should clarify), and the increasing number of people cycling in nice, stylish and non-sporting clothing. They have a way to go still, but Melbourne is definitely the top chance in Australia - especially with the increasing number of bike lanes and paths, and the up and coming free bike scheme.

I think it will take a lot to get in front of Copenhagen in this list!

Loved your article, again...In a near future, I hope to see Lisbon as a contender. Late in the year, we'll have our bike sharing program running (wishful thinking?) and Lisbon's weather is always on our side. Hopefully, these two factors will boost a (still very weak) bicycle culture.regardsRF

Love the blog--I agree with Copenhagen as your number one! I used to live there and rode my bike everywhere, in every kind of outfit, at all times of the year! Now if we can only get bike lanes on Manhattan.

I am so thankful for your site. While I have lived the cycle chic lifestyle for over 30 years, and have had the luxury of living in some of the cities you highlight, I now live in a area barren of "cycle chic" cyclists. Having your site to refer people to, helps tremendously when I offer the argument that cycling should be and is both beautiful and easy.

I think Portland OR should have won a spot as the first commenter stated. They have come a looong way in the last few years and reduced carbon emissions by 20% compared to a few years ago. Not many cities if any over here can say that. Helmets tend to ruin any fashion statement but there are "sexier" helmets coming out I hear!

Well, while not all Sheffield's cyclists achieve the high standards required, I think Sheffield can lay claim to having produced one of the most iconic chic cyclists in the one and only Mr Jarvis Cocker! And just before you say he's jumped on the fashion bandwagon this is one of his lyrics from the album "Different Class" from 1995 - so he was well ahead of the game:

It's just like in the old days - I used to compose my own critical notices in my head."The crowd gasps at Cocker's masterful control of the bicycleskilfully avoiding the dog turd next to the corner shop."

Hourrah pour Montréal! It's really wonderful to see the downtown and the Plateau retaken by so many classy cyclists! I'm hoping the trend will extend as much as possible...

Also, I have a cycling fashion question. It is well known that etiquette for the front button of a suit's jacket is for the top button (assuming a two buttons jacket) to be fastened while standing, and having the buttons unfastened while sitting, to avoid an ugly drape. But what about while cycling?

I have the added difficulty that my bike is not strictly a proper sit-up bike, and still has me leaning ever so slightly...

Montreal comes way BEFORE toronto. If you visit Montreal on a weekday for exemple, you will see lots of business women on high heels and smart suit, and sharp looking business men with their attaché case on bixi. On weekends, even better, party girls and boys in the latest fashion. Michelle

I'd have to give my present, but soon to be former, city a mention. Zürich, with its multitude of beautiful bikes and ladies has to be there somewhere. They even seem to have their own style of bike here, a swiss cross of the french porteur and old-dutch perhaps??? And Basel ain't half bad too!